Can CrossFit really cause kidney damage?

HSS primary care sports physician David A. Wang, MD was featured in a Fox News article on the potential link between CrossFit and rhabdomyolysis.

Dr. Wang explained rhabdomyolysis is "when exercise utilizes all of the energy supply in the muscle cell, this leads to a chain of events culminating in the death of the cell."

However, Dr. Wang clarified that CrossFit "could potentially put athletes in these situations, but the risk of rhabdomyolysis is not specific to CrossFit." He advised that certain people should "proceed with caution, while those with a metabolic muscle disorder should stay away from CrossFit altogether."